Follow these instructions and thou shalt have the best cruise of your life on the heavenly ships of Seabourn, voted by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards in 2012, as being the World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise line. Seabourn is as good as cruising gets, offering all-suite accommodations, all-inclusive complimentary premium wine and alcohol; and small intimate ships with no tipping required.  We recently sailed on an 18-day Christmas cruise on the 450-passenger Seabourn Quest through the Caribbean; it was nothing short of terrific, thanks to an Oscar-worthy Christmas show we would have gladly paid admission for; gingerbread houses galore in the lobby and public areas of the ship; and gourmet turkey dinners worthy of St. Nick.  Three out of three wise men would agree that Seabourn is the best! 

Of course, those familiar with the upscale cruise industry know that Seabourn is famous for its intuitive service. Let’s face it, on Seabourn, clairvoyance of passenger desires is part of the staff’s job description. So grab your partner – and follow our “insider’s guide” to make your cruise even more fun and fabulous. Every hard-working executive owes it to himself – or herself – to experience the luxury that is Seabourn.

1). Thou shalt dine a deux.

A major part of the cruise experience is about spending quality private time together.  Request a table-for-two in the main dining room or dine inside your suite, next to your verandah, where the sea and sky surround you.  For more intimacy, dine inside the lovely high-end dining venue known as Restaurant 2, which has no extra charge for a gastronomic dinner. The myriad little bites of deliciousness in this specialty dining venue can include seared beef with curried Vidalia onion rings, goat cheese panna cotta, and coconut and passion fruit gelato with almond foam.  Don’t forget to kiss and canoodle between courses, and remember -- on a cruise ship, desserts are supposed to be sinful.

2). Thou shalt spa.

Book the ultimate pampering through the onboard Elemis Spa: a sensuous couples’ massage. For even more decadence, reserve the private villa ($650 for four hours) that comes with bed, private sundeck, 75-minute hot-stone massage, special bath, and lunch. Or just take advantage of the complimentary, much-loved “Massage Moments” on the pool deck.

3).  Thou shalt be lazy.

Sleep late, relax by the pool, and order room service at 3AM. Every day is the proverbial “seventh day” when you should rest, together. For divine decadence, go to the Quest’s fifth-deck private pool area, which is a heavenly oasis apart from the main pool. Ask the sommelier for a delicious glass of complimentary dessert wine; nibble on exotic fruits; take the plunge; and thank the Heavens that you have arrived at this station in life.

4).  Thou shalt also be active.

Seabourn offers oceans of exercise options: an outdoor deck for jogging and fast-walking, indoor gym with cardio theater, free Kinesis and Pilates instruction, ballroom-dancing lessons, slow and disco dancing in a romantically-lit lounge, strolls on moonlit decks --  everything short of walking the plank. 

5). Thou shalt enjoy your suite.

The ship’s Oceanview suites (which we booked) measure 295 sq. feet and  feature a couch, dining area, small refrigerator, desk, a two-sink bathroom with separate tub and shower.  Fresh floral bouquets, fruit baskets, turndown chocolates, and fluffy robes and slippers are all provided. For even more room, book one of the larger suites on board.  The Verandah suites measure 365 sq. feet and feature a sliding door to your verandah, where two deck chairs await you.  The Penthouse suites, larger still at 534 sq. feet, feature a dining table for two to four people, and room dividers to allow for separate bedrooms. In addition to the glass slider to a verandah, this suite category adds two flat-screen TVs, in addition to a spacious bathroom with tub, shower and large vanity.  The ultimate suite on the ship is the Owner’s Suite, which, at 760 sq. feet and countered to occupy a corner of the ship, offers a full-length window and glass slider to a larger verandah, dining for four, a  separate bedroom, a guest bath, two flat-screen TVs, a pantry with wet bar, a  convertible sofa for one and even an in-suite whirlpool bath. On top of all this, complimentary internet/Wi-Fi service is provided to guests in the Owner’s Suite.

No matter what suite you’re in, here’s an attractive option:  Make arrangements for an in-suite dinner. Want something extra special such as foie gras – or skinless breast of chicken in tomato ragout or low-fat carrot cake?  Just tell the Executive Chef and give him at least 24 hours’ notice; you’ll be rewarded with the very best version of “Exactly What You Want.”   Continuing with Seabourn’s in-suite comforts, one of the newest cruise amenities is the blissful bed.  See Commandment Six.

6). Love thy sleep.

Seabourn offers sumptuous bedding, realizing that a good night’s sleep together, an afternoon nap, and spontaneous intimacy, are lusted-after luxuries. (This is a relatively new development on cruise ships, which have realized that they must follow in the footsteps of hotels that promise you sybaritic sleep in plush beds.) You’ll be spoiled by sleeping beauties:  Seabourn beds are prepared with award-winning mattresses made by the Eastbourn company in the Netherlands. Guests love them. Likewise, the linens are from a company called Hilden in England. They are high-thread-count, Egyptian cotton in a jacquard pattern and are smart, durable and very comfortable. Seabourn’s standard pillows are king-size down and feather pillows treated with a patented hypoallergenic treatment. Most guests, even those who have long believed they cannot abide down, have been thrilled with them, as they offer an ideal “snooze cruise.”

7). Thou shalt steal stolen moments.

On cruise ships, sweethearts can steal themselves away for unexpected pleasures and new discoveries, fore and aft. Forget the “shoulds” and let yourself go – to share educational lectures; shore excursions; classical music performances; board games and any number of belly laughs, when you least expect them. For the ultimate in ‘spectacular’ category, we couldn’t miss Seabourn’s famous “Caviar in the Surf” and its superlative beach barbecue on the private island at Half Moon Cay beach in the Bahamas.

We also did something unusual when, late one night, we tucked ourselves into the Card Room where there is a huge TV screen.  We dialed up a movie, laid back, covered ourselves with blankets, and even enjoyed popcorn – all in our private screening room. Steven Spielberg himself would have been envious!

You can even get married on board – at no extra charge.  Just tell Guest Services and they will make arrangements to have the Captain – or the onboard priest or rabbi – officiate at a special, complimentary marriage vow renewal ceremony, complete with special cake and champagne. (Most other cruise lines charge at least $2,500 for their vow renewals.)

8).  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s Samsonite.

In other words, pack these must-have items for your romantic rendezvous: Elegant room spray in your favorite fragrance (I love Diptyque’s Violette); digital camera; and a travel diary to record daily adventures. Don’t forget your nicest outfits and best jewelry; dressing up for dinner is an experience to be savored. You’ll live happily ever after for the length of your cruise.  And don’t be surprised when Seabourn staffers go the extra mile. Here’s just one example from our Seabourn Files.  A prominent doctor and his wife were about to sail on the Seabourn Odyssey, when a brass button popped off of his navy-blue blazer. He rummaged around and sewed it back on --with turquoise thread! Upon arrival to their suite, the doctor’s wife noticed that the button was sewed on with the wrong colored thread, which the stewardess overheard.  Unbeknownst to the couple, the stewardess exited the suite with the blazer and returned 20 minutes later with the jacket button outfitted in navy-blue thread. This was such an unexpected, distinctive service that the doctor and his wife told that story for months! 

9). Thou shalt create surprises.

Request a special recipe  – a favorite cake, ice cream, or entree --  as a surprise. (We were thrilled when the Executive Chef prepared Nutella gelato just for us.) Arrange for milk and cookies – or hot fudge sundaes --  served to you, at the hot tub, at midnight.  If there’s a birthday or anniversary (such as the day you first met) to celebrate with champagne, all the better. Better yet, ask your stewardess to prepare a specialty Pure Pampering bubble bath, made with exclusive Molton Brown products in scents such as ginseng or gingerlily. Shipboard surprises can turn memories into magic, faster than you can say “starboard.”
 

10). Honor thy feelings.

It’s bound to happen, so just run with it.  Your cruise ends, and your loved one utters those three little words you long to hear: no, not “I love you,” but “Let’s book another!”  Translation: your Seabourn Cruise sailing was everything you thought it would be – and more.

For more information, contact www.Seabourn.com or call (866) 755-5619.

Smooth Rides From BostonCoach

To get to our destination in Fort Lauderdale, where we embarked on our Seabourn cruise, we had the great pleasure to be chauffeured to and from Boston’s Logan Airport by BostonCoach. It was a thrill, because BostonCoach does everything to make everyone feel like a VIP — even if you’re just an Average Joe.

For readers of Exec Digital Magazine, you’ll be pleased to know that BostonCoach has about 30 years of experience working with executives at Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. BostonCoach and its luxury vehicles are the proverbial “well-oiled machine,” dealing with VIPs around the world in all industries, including business, sports, politics and entertainment. Luxury and reliability add to the first-class feeling of your trip. Your chauffeur does everything from opening doors for you, storing your luggage, to yes, holding signage with your name on it (including aliases for public figures who don’t otherwise want it advertised that they’re in town). 

All these not-so-little touches make a big difference — they actually can turn a mundane trip into one that you won’t forget. Chauffeurs must also undergo thorough background checks and safety training, so you can sit back, know that you’re in safe hands, enjoy the ride, and forget about everything else. This experience is not some “taxi ride” by some company you’ve never heard of, where you pray they will remember to pick you up.

Another reason why you’ll be so delighted? Confirmation communications — emails — are sent out immediately after you book, and you receive them within minutes. A second confirmation email is sent to you 24 hours before your trip. Yet one more is sent to you 20 minutes before you are picked up. These special communications eliminate any anxiety, trepidation or fear you have about your trip — always a major factor with the stress that everyone feels traveling these days.

“Our mission at BostonCoach is to reduce the anxiety travelers experience by offering a sanctuary on wheels,” says Larry Moulter, President and CEO of BostonCoach. “Once you’ve made your reservation with BostonCoach, we’ll make sure you’re safe, on-time and stress-free.”

Executives can book online at www.BostonCoach.com or by calling (800) 672-7676. BostonCoach has vehicles in more than 40 countries around the world, for globetrotters of every distinction.

BostonCoach is the vroooom at the top!

About the Authors:

Debbi K. Kickham is the author of the bestseller The Globetrotter’s Get-Gorgeous Guide (www.GorgeousGlobetrotter.com) and the CEO of Maxima Marketing, a marketing/communications firm in Westwood, Mass. (www.MarketingAuthor.com)

William D. Kickham, Esq., is a Boston trial attorney and legal commentator for such media as CourtTV and The New York Times.  (www.kickhamlegal.com.) When he’s not presenting cases in court, he writes about traveling the world with the love of his life, Debbi.